Depending on the condition you have, you may choose to see one or more of the following types of doctors:

Primary care physicianPrimary care refers to general medical care for routine or chronic illnesses, preventive care, and minor injuries. For depression, the primary care physician more often than a psychiatrist performs the initial screening and writes most of the prescriptions. The primary care physician is usually the first health care professional a patient sees; the physician provides a referral to a specialist if necessary. The primary care physician, who typically works in private or group practice, may collaborate with other physicians as well as physicians' assistants and nurse practitioners. That allows a patient to see a familiar backup physician or other health professional if the primary care physician is unavailable.

PsychiatristPsychiatrists are board-certified physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Diagnostic tools for the psychiatrist can include patient history and physical exams, laboratory tests and brain imaging scans, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans. Patients may see a psychiatrist for depression, manias, bipolar disorder, other depressive disorders, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, schizophrenia or sexual dysfunction. Psychiatrists can prescribe medication – usually in conjunction with other treatment options, such as psychotherapy – and often work in tandem with talk therapists and counselors.Clinical psychologistPsychologists are professionals who focus on patients’ mental and emotional health. Patients see psychologists for therapy, but do not receive prescriptions for medication from psychologists. They are not typically physicians, but usually hold a Ph.D. or other advanced academic degree. Patients may see a psychologist for a variety of issues, such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression or poor impulse control. Treatment options can include counseling or psychotherapy. There are two principal branches of psychology: applied psychology, which refers to clinical practitioners who deal with patients; and research or experimental psychology, which involves the scholarly study and/or teaching about the human mind (such as cognition and behavior).Social workerSocial workers who specialize in mental health are able to treat individuals through talk therapy (individually or in a group), crisis intervention, social rehabilitation, or education about skills for everyday living. They may work in out-patient facilities, where clients come in for treatment during office hours and then leave, or through in-patient programs, where patients reside at the facility. Social workers may also organize supportive services to ease a client’s return to the community after leaving in-patient facilities. Psychiatric mental-health nurseA psychiatric mental-health nurse is an advanced-practice RN who has a master’s or doctoral degree in psychiatric mental health and is licensed to assess, diagnose and treat individuals or families with psychiatric problems/disorders. Peer specialistPeer specialists are patients recovering from mental illness who are trained and certified to help their peers gain hope and move forward in their own recovery. They accomplish this by motivating patients to develop an expectation of recovery; encouraging them to maintain regular self-monitoring of symptoms; and guiding them to develop self-management skills for symptom-control and problem-solving.

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